Mike Foltynewicz Solid, But Bullpen Bad, Atlanta Braves Swept Again
By John Le
The Atlanta Braves bullpen’s inconsistencies haunted them again today, giving the Phillies a four-run 8th inning. They started a promising 9th inning rally but couldn’t complete it, getting swept for the second consecutive series.
The game was looking to be a pitcher’s game early and was for the most part. Today was one of Atlanta Braves‘ Mike Foltynewicz‘s better games, showing his potential.
Folty cruised with his heaters, striking out two in the first and just kept going. Through seven innings, he allowed only four hits (three of those didn’t even come until the 7th), while striking out nine! In the 6th, he faced the minimum in dominant fashion, striking out three in a row.
However, as good as Foltynewicz was, Phillies’ Zach Eflin was also. Eflin and Foltynewicz both pitched scoreless outings up till the 7th inning. Enter Matt Kemp. Kemp played tie-breaker, launching a solo home run to right.
The Phillies would counter with their own offense. Three consecutive hits by Maikel Franco, Daniel Nava, and Brock Stassi scored the tying run. Foltynewicz would get Andrew Knapp to ground into a double play to get out of trouble. Ender Inciarte also made a nice sliding catch for the first out of the inning.
The Braves threaten in the eighth after Dansby Swanson singled to center but couldn’t cash it in. Foltynewicz left the game and the bullpen took over, unfortunately they did not provide the same performance Folty gave.
The Beating Of The Braves Bullpen
Arodys Vizcaino entered the game and was immediately in trouble. Michael Saunders, pinch-hitting, doubled to right. Cesar Hernandez then shot a no-doubter to right, hitting a two-run home run. Vizcaino couldn’t catch a break as Aaron Altherr, who was up next, hit a homer to center.
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Ian Krol would relieved Vizcaino and the Phillies were not done. Odubel Herrera would join the party, hitting a home run to center. A back-to-back-to-back home run sequence placed the Phillies up 5-1.
Trailing by four runs, the Braves showed that they weren’t giving up and were going to fight till the end. Freddie Freeman‘s patience at the plate earned him a walk, starting a promising inning. Up next, the source of the Braves solo run, Matt Kemp hit a single. Freeman, waved home, scored another run.
Nick Markakis joined in the cause, hitting another single, which allowed for the tying run to come to the plate. However, the Braves would not score anymore. Adonis Garcia struck out swinging. Jace Peterson would draw a walk to load the bases but a fly-out from Swanson and a ground-out from Tyler Flowers ended the game.
Getting swept for a second consecutive time, the Braves have lost six games in a roll putting their W-L record at 6-12. Foltynewicz’s strong performance was wasted once again but the positive is we are seeing him improve. This outing was better than his last outing, which was better than the outing before. The bullpen has been a constant issue for the Braves being causes to some of the team’s losses.
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The Braves have an off-day tomorrow before heading to New York to face the Mets. Julio Teheran is expected to take the 1st of a three-game series, starting time is at 7:10 PM.